A documentary about an F-15 pilot who scrambled on Sept. 11, 2001, and later struggled with PTSD screens Sept. 20 at the Oak Park – IL Film Festival.

"Nasty: The Battle After the Mission" tells the story of Lt. Col. Daniel "Nasty" Nash, a La Grange native and 1984 Lyons Township High School graduate. Nash was one of two pilots launched from Otis Air National Guard Base off Cape Cod, Mass., at supersonic speed that morning to intercept what was believed to be a hijacked commercial airliner.

The 40-minute film screens Sunday, Sept. 20, at 10:15 a.m. at Madison Street Theater, 1010 Madison St., as part of the festival's "Legacy and Impact" block. It has been nominated for best documentary in the long-form category.

John Scaletta, owner of Motion Source Film Studio in Brookfield and Nash's high school classmate, directed the film. His wife, Stephanie Scaletta, a former Oak Park Township outreach staffer, served as executive producer.

The project started in 2021 after John Scaletta learned of Nash's death that June at age 54. He had planned to build an F-15-themed float for the annual La Grange Pet Parade in Nash's honor and film the process. His business partner, Craig Bass, suggested pivoting from a float documentary to a film about Nash's life.

The planned 10-minute short grew into a five-year effort involving more than 50 people.

"Some people were fine after 9/11, and some people weren't … Dan was one of those guys," Scaletta told the Wednesday Journal. "He had PTSD and was never able to shake it."

Nash began drinking heavily after the attacks, and his life spiraled, according to Scaletta. He eventually received an honorable discharge but died at 54, leaving behind three children, his mother, three siblings and extended family.

Scaletta said Nash's brother, Brendan Nash, was receptive to participating in the project. Scaletta recalled Brendan saying that more than 20 years later, 9/11 had taken his brother.

The film premiered at La Grange Theatre in May and has been selected by 16 film festivals across the country. Its Oak Park screening comes nine days after the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The third-year festival runs Sept. 19–20 at Madison Street Theater. A 13-member board selected 31 films from 44 submissions, according to festival organizers. Early bird block tickets are $12 through Thursday, Sept. 10, rising to $15 after that. Weekend passes are $60 before Sept. 10. Tickets and schedules are available at opilff.org.